Xiaomi recently launched the Mi Band HRX edition in India to capitalise on the festive season in the country. As the name indicates, the company has joined hands with Indian Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan to launch its latest wearable. If you are wondering what makes the Mi Band HRX edition different from the regular Mi Band 2 sold by Xiaomi in India, read this post.

Mi Band 2 vs Mi Band HRX Edition

The Mi Band HRX Edition is exactly the same as the Mi Band 2 previously sold by Xiaomi in India. The only difference between the two is the lack of a heart rate scanner on the HRX edition of the wearable. Otherwise, both bands offer the same set of features and functionality which includes an almost month-long battery life, step and sleep tracking, Bluetooth 4.0, IP67 splash-resistant design, and an OLED display to display the time, steps taken, calories burnt, and notifications from certain apps.

The heart rate scanner on the Mi Band 2 never really worked properly so its exclusion is not really an issue here. All the other great features of the Mi Band 2 are also found on the Mi Band HRX edition. As a bonus, the lack of a heart rate scanner on the Mi Band HRX edition means it also carries a slightly lower price tag of Rs 1,299. Sadly, like the Mi Band 2, the Mi Band HRX edition is almost always out of stock and getting your hands on one is going to be a difficult task.

If you looking to buy the Mi Band 2, there really is not much you can do since Xiaomi has stopped selling that wearable in India now.

Mi Band HRX Edition vs Honor Band 3

Huawei’s Honor sub-brand recently launched the Honor band 3 in India as well. The budget wearable market in India has taken off in a big way and Huawei wants to have a pie of it. Priced at more than 2x the Mi Band HRX edition — Rs 2,799, the Honor Band 3 does come with a more advanced feature set. This includes a design that is resistant in up to 50m of water which allows the band to record your swimming sessions as well, continuous heart rate tracking, up to 30 days of battery life, sleep tracking, and more.

The Honor Band 3 is also available in a bunch of colors unlike the Mi Band HRX edition which is only available in one color and finish. On paper, the Honor Band 3 is clearly a much superior wearable when compared to the Mi Band HRX edition. However, it also costs twice the Mi Band HRX edition — Rs 2,799 vs Rs 1,299. Honor also does not have a reputable track record of updating its wearables with new features and stability improvements over time like Xiaomi. One key area where the Honor Band 3 has an advantage over the Mi Band HRX edition is in terms of availability. While one can easily buy the Honor Band 3 from Amazon or Honor’s own online store, the Mi Band HRX edition is almost always out of stock.

Which wearable do you plan on buying this festive season? The Mi Band HRX edition or the Honor Band 3? Are you disappointed that the Mi Band HRX edition lacks a heart rate scanner like the Mi Band 2?